Device for stacking and compressing soft elements

Abstract

The claimed invention relates to a device for stacking and compressing a plurality of soft elements. One purpose of the invention is to avoid damage to the soft elements due to excessive pressure. The device comprises a stacking shaft, drive means and movable receiving means arranged on two opposite sides of the stacking shaft, which receiving means in pairs are arranged in level with each other. Moveable compressing means are arranged on two opposite sides of the stacking shaft. Both the receiving means and compressing means are movable in a vertical direction. The receiving means are arranged to successively receive elements. Each pair of the compressing means is movable from above the stack for compressing the elements.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device for stacking and compressing a plurality of soft elements, comprising a stacking shaft  14 , in which the elements are capable of being stacked, characterised by 
       receiving means ( 17 ,  19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) comprising first drive means ( 17 ) which are arranged on two opposite sides of the stacking shaft ( 14 ) and to each of which at least two receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) extending along the width (b) of the shaft are arranged, which in pairs are arranged in level with each other and are movable by said first drive means ( 17 ) in the vertical direction of said shaft ( 14 ), and  
       compressing means ( 18 ,  21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) comprising second drive means ( 18 ) which are arranged on two opposite sides of the stacking shaft ( 14 ) and which are individually movable in relation to said first drive means ( 17 ), to each of which at least two compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) extending along the width (b) of the shaft are arranged, so that the compressing surfaces in pairs are arranged in level with each other and are movable by said second drive means ( 18 ) in the vertical direction of said shaft ( 14 ),  
       each pair of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) being adapted to successively receive elements and to support the same to form a stack ( 26 ), and each pair of compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ) being adapted to be individually movable from above in the direction of the stack ( 26 ), for compressing the same.  
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of receiving surfaces that supports the stack is adapted to be gradually movable downwards as the stack ( 26 ) grows in the vertical direction. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second drive means consist of elongate, flexible elements ( 17 ,  18 ), preferably chains, which run in individually moving paths between deflecting means ( 15 ,  16 ) adjacent to the upper and lower part of the shaft ( 14 ), and which support said receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ), respectively, thereby forming a double paternoster. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second flexible elements ( 17 ,  18 ) run individually along an essentially common path, and wherein said compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) and receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) are arranged alternatingly along said path. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the compressing assembly further comprises a second conveying means ( 23 ) which is located under the stack and adapted, in cooperation with the first conveying means in its activated position, to remove the compressed stack from the stacking shaft ( 14 ). 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the conveying means ( 24   a-c ,  23 ) consist of belt conveyors. 
     
     
       9. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second drive means consist of elongate, flexible elements ( 17 ,  18 ), preferably chains, which run in individually moving paths between deflecting means ( 15 ,  16 ) adjacent to the upper and lower part of the shaft ( 14 ), and which support said receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ), respectively, thereby forming a double paternoster. 
     
     
       10. A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first and second flexible elements ( 17 ,  18 ) run individually along an essentially common path, and wherein said compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) and receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) are arranged alternatingly along said path. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       12. A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       13. A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       14. A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the receiving means and the compressing means each comprise two pairs of receiving surfaces ( 19   a-b ,  20   a-b ) and two pairs of compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ). 
     
     
       16. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       17. A device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 21   a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       18. A device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 2  l a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       19. A device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 2  l a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       20. A device as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction. 
     
     
       21. A device as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first conveying means ( 24   a-c ) which is movable between a first deactivated position in which it is located outside the stacking shaft ( 14 ),and a second activated position in which it is located parallel with the compressing surfaces ( 2 l a-b ,  22   a-b ) and contacts the upper side of the stack ( 26 ) so as to allow, without frictional forces acting against the motion, conveyance of the stack transversely of the compressing direction.